CORBIN — In the run to the second 13th Region Tournament title in school history last season, nothing came easy for the Harlan County Black Bears during hard-fought wins over South Laurel, Clay County and Corbin.
The quest for a repeat started much the same Wednesday as Harlan County grabbed an early lead but had to fight off numerous Knox Central comeback attempts before holding off the youthful Panthers 61-49 in the tournament’s opening game at The Corbin Arena.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game going in,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “I told the kids not to pay attention to people who said we got an easy draw. They won 22 ballgames, and they’re not an easy draw. Knox Central competed hard, and they have one of the best young players in the region (Grayson Burton), but I want to give our kids credit. We could have got tight when they cut it to four.”
The Panthers, who fell to Pineville in the 51st District Tournament finals, came out ice cold and didn’t record a field goal until Burton converted a layup off a turnover. Maddox Huff hit an early 3, and Reggie Cottrell and Jaycee Carter each had baskets as the Bears took a 7-1 lead. Trent Cole and Huff each hit 3s as the lead grew to 15-3 before Burton closed the period with a 3 of his own for only the second Knox field goal of the period.
“We’re so young that we came out nervous, and I was afraid of that,” Knox Central coach Mitchell Madden said. “We went four minutes and didn’t score a bucket, but here’s the thing I want everyone to know. My kids are young, and they never quit. We battled back to within four and missed a layup and free throw. But you look up there and it’s 15-3, and they could have folded. There’s no quit in those boys, and I hope that’s what everyone saw.”
“I was disappointed halftime because I thought we could have been up 15, but we settled down toward the end of the third quarter and made plays when we had to,” Jones said.
Huff and Cole each hit 3s as the lead grew to 24-12 with 2:12 left in the first half. Two Burton baskets, including a 3, cut the deficit to 26-18 at halftime.
Knox seemed to grab the momentum to start the second half, getting as close as four after a three-point play by Hayden Melton with 3:49 left in the third period. The lead alternated between six and four until Huff hit a 3 to ignite a 10-0 run that put the Bears back in control. Huff finished with 28 points, including 10 of 10 at the line, to lead the 25-8 Bears.
“I think he’s the best player in the region, but I’m so proud of my kids,” Madden said. “Kyle has a great team. You have to give credit to them. We didn’t make shots, and they did.”
Cole, a sophomore point guard, finished with 18 points and helped Harlan County put the game away in the fourth quarter with a 3, then a basket off a drive after Knox pulled within six on a trey by Austin Bargo with 3:30 left. Huff hit six straight free throws over the final two minutes.
Burton, a freshman guard, led the 22-8 Panthers with 20 points.
Harlan County will play North Laurel on Saturday at 1 in the semifinals.